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I don't see anyone unprotected in the Orioles system that stays on a Major League Roster all season. This time next year on the other hand could be a different matter. Tim Berry and Michael Ohlman aren't worth the trouble just yet. As your article states these are guys at A+ and still have a lot to prove.

The odd thing here is that if players press the issue having good years next season: Berry, Ohlman, Drake and even Schrader could end up exposed and drafted. These players may not want that as this team has all the need for what they do as is. Each could find themselves ruined by a drafting club and become outright resentful. The Rule V draft is good for players stuck in no man's land (blocked on the parent team). Or returning from injury. Not prospects in a sound position to succeed.

Last year the Orioles selected T.J. McFarland and I have to wonder how he (privately) feels about it. In Cleveland he was a AAA starter nearly ready for a shot at their rotation. The man really might have been a great fit for them as a back of the rotation starter. He just needed a little more time. So he's left unprotected and the Orioles take him. He got to spend all of 2013 on a ML Roster and got a pay increase. Long term though I suspect his payday is as a 5th or 6th SP. I suspect the Orioles seriously try using him in the rotation to start 2014 and then if he's still not ready it's Norfolk or return to the bullpen. It should be interesting to see if there is a competition between Matusz and McFarland next spring for that last rotation spot.

The team went to a huge amount of trouble to keep McFarland. My guess is that it wasn't just for an average lefty reliever. A roster spot all season long... Do you see anyone the team leaves unprotected worth going to that trouble for?

Brian Matusz is no longer a starter. The Orioles managed to terminate that course of action after promoting him to the majors after eight starts at Bowie, rushed him back from his injury in 2011, giving him a rotation spot in 2012 after doing nothing to deserve it, and mismanaging his options. He can no longer go to the minors without proper designation, and he would never get passed waivers. Brian Matusz is a reliever for the rest of his career, unless he is traded to a very bad team, willing to give a LOOGY a rotation spot, in the near future.

As for the Rule V, the Orioles have went great lengths to keep Flaherty and McFarland on their roster in the past two years, respectively. Neither have looked very impressive honestly. I want to believe that McFarland could be something other than a reliever, but he's never had is K/9 rate in the minors exceed 6.9. He's given up a H/9 above 9.0 every year he's pitched. In any case, I'd slot TJ into a Norfolk rotation spot and see what he's got. If TJ McFarland is able to fight for a rotation spot in Spring Training, the 2014 Orioles are doomed.

Nice article Tucker! I'd forget about Ohlman & Berry. No team will select a A+ player, and reasonable expect him to make the major league roster, let alone stay on it all year. Gurka isn't worth a 40-man since Baltimore already has enough LHP floating around. Schrader won't get selected and won't get put on our 40-man. I expect Gamboa, Joseph, and Drake to all start the year at Norfolk, which naturally puts them in a position to help out the big league club at some point in the season. This justifies my reasoning of placing them on the 40-man roster.

osforlife wrote:Brian Matusz is no longer a starter. The Orioles managed to terminate that course of action after promoting him to the majors after eight starts at Bowie, rushed him back from his injury in 2011, giving him a rotation spot in 2012 after doing nothing to deserve it, and mismanaging his options. He can no longer go to the minors without proper designation, and he would never get passed waivers. Brian Matusz is a reliever for the rest of his career, unless he is traded to a very bad team, willing to give a LOOGY a rotation spot, in the near future.

I can't argue with what you said above. Every word of it is true. But $3,000,000 salary for a 1 or 2 out guy in the bullpen is lunacy. My guess is he gets an audition in spring training for some sort of expanded role if he isn't traded.

If you are interested in the entire list of those eligible for the Rule 5, check out the database: http://bit.ly/1fCv5AII do need to clean it up a little bit (remove some former players, and there are a lot!)

/ Edit

I cleaned that up, shouldn't be anymore former players on the list. Let me know if you spot any though

j.q. higgins wrote:i mean, a lot of it has been cleaning out joe jordan's pet projects...i'd rather see them look for new answers than continue to invest in dead ends.

Points to you!

That is a a pretty accurate assessment of what seems to have been happening. If the current regime is able to churn out real talent then I am perfectly alright with it too. However, while it's still early to look at the 2012 draft. I am not seeing any real steals to make you think we need room.

well, it's further indictment of the jordan regime that the current crew thinks they're better off stocking the upper levels of the minors w/ fringey castoffs from other orgs and speculative jousts in the international market. this could be the first year in a while that several home grown guys make their case in one form or another.